Curfew imposed in Indian-controlled Kashmir town following militant's killing

Authorities Friday continued to impose strict curfew in Indian- controlled Kashmir town for the second straight day, following the killing of a local militant, officials said. The curfew has been imposed in Pulwama, about 35 km south of Srinagar city, the summer capital of Indian-controlled Kashmir. "The curfew was clamped Thursday morning to prevent protests and clashes following the death of a local militant in a gunfight with army," said a local government official. "It is a precautionary measure to main law and order." On Wednesday, a militant, Tauseef Ahmad Dar, was killed in nearby Dalwan village, triggering street protests. "Today was the second day of curfew and there is possibility the restrictions will remain in place tomorrow a well," said a lower rung police officer. "We have inputs that if restrictions were lifted people will come out to stage protests and possibly clashes might break." Locals said police vehicles fitted with public address systems announced the imposition of curfew in the morning. "There is huge deployment of police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) outside our house and they are not allowing us to venture out," Showkat Ahmad, a local resident, told Xinhua over telephone from Pulwama. Reports said young residents tried to defy restrictions and clashed with police and paramilitary troopers in the town but were chased out immediately. Police used batons and tear gas shells to disperse the irate protesters. Anti-India sentiment runs deep in the psyche of a majority of Kashmiris. A guerrilla war is going on between militants and Indian troops stationed in Indian-controlled Kashmir since 1989. Gunfight between the two sides takes place intermittently across the region.